KEBS Breaks Silence on Rwanda Suspension of Five Kenyan Alcohol Brands

The Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS) has responded to Rwanda’s temporary suspension of five alcoholic beverage brands manufactured in Kenya.

In a statement dated Tuesday, August 11, 2026, KEBS said the affected products had undergone conformity assessment, factory inspections, market surveillance, and laboratory testing and were found to comply with applicable Kenyan and East African standards.

“KEBS wishes to reassure consumers, trade partners, and the public that the five alcoholic beverage brands recently suspended by the Rwanda Food and Drugs Authority have undergone rigorous conformity assessment, market surveillance, factory inspection, and laboratory testing by KEBS and have been found to comply with the applicable Kenyan and East African Standards,” read part of the statement.

Five Alcoholic Brands Named

The affected products are Kenya King Gin and Safari Gin, manufactured by London Distillers Kenya Ltd; Avalon and Sweet Berry Potable Spirits, manufactured by Zheng Hong (K) Ltd; and Gilbey’s Gin, manufactured by Kenya Breweries Ltd.

KEBS said the products hold valid Standardization Marks and meet the required standards for quality, safety and labelling.

The products are certified under KS EAS 145:2018, which covers gin specifications, KS EAS 142:2018, which covers vodka specifications, and KS EAS 109:2018, which covers potable spirits.

The standards set requirements for alcohol content, methanol levels, higher alcohols, esters, volatile acids, packaging, labelling and consumer safety.

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KEBS Reviews Products After Rwanda Suspension

Following the Rwanda FDA announcement, KEBS launched a comprehensive review of the five products.

The review covered product certification records, quality assurance reports, market surveillance findings, factory inspections and laboratory testing.

KEBS also consulted the affected manufacturers, the Kenya Association of Manufacturers (KAM), standards bodies from other East African Community (EAC) Partner States and the EAC Quality Assurance and Testing Sub-committee.

“The review confirmed that all five products had undergone conformity assessment and testing against the applicable standards and complies with the prescribed quality and safety requirements,” KEBS said.

The agency also reviewed previous laboratory reports covering key areas, including ethyl alcohol content, methanol, higher alcohols, esters, aldehydes and volatile acids.

According to KEBS, the results showed that the products complied with the relevant standards at the time of certification and market surveillance.

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Fresh Tests Conducted on the Five Brands

KEBS said it conducted targeted inspections at the manufacturing facilities between August 7 and 10, 2026, to independently establish the current compliance status of the products.

The inspections assessed manufacturing processes, quality management systems, process controls, product traceability, hygiene and sanitation, packaging and labelling.

The agency also assessed whether the manufacturers followed Good Manufacturing Practices.

KEBS said fresh samples collected during the inspections were subjected to laboratory analysis.

“The laboratory analyses confirmed that all five products complied with the requirements of KS EAS 145:2018 (Gin Specification) and KS EAS 109:2018 (Potable Spirit Specification),” the agency said.

The tests covered alcohol content, methanol, higher alcohols, esters, aldehydes, volatile acids and product labelling.

KEBS added that the inspections found the manufacturing facilities operating in compliance with applicable quality, safety and regulatory requirements.

69 Potable Spirit Products Tested

The standards agency further disclosed that it tested 69 potable spirit products available in the Kenyan market during its routine market surveillance programme for the 2024/2025 financial year.

According to KEBS, all the sampled products complied with the requirements of the applicable standards.

The agency said it remains committed to protecting consumers, promoting fair trade and maintaining confidence in Kenyan products both locally and across the East African Community.

KEBS is also engaging the Rwanda Food and Drugs Authority and other regional regulatory bodies to establish the basis for the temporary suspension and seek a technical resolution through established EAC frameworks.

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